The Mavericks have long been one of the Spurs’ greatest rivals. But it hasn’t been much of a rivalry lately with the Spurs having won six straight — their longest run of success in the series since the late 1990s.

Both teams are depleted entering tonight’s matchup. Mavericks small forward Shawn Marion was left home after bruising his shoulder in Tuesday’s victory over the Lakers. The Spurs were forced to deploy mainstays Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginoibli for more minutes than usual in their overtime victory at Memphis, leaving their roles for tonight’s game in question. Ginobili indicated after the game that he’s more than ready to sit out after experiencing tightness in his hamstring, in which case he’d join Tiago Splitter on the sideline.

Where the Mavericks excel

With six double-figure scorers, the Mavericks are one of the best and most balanced offensive teams in the NBA. They rank in the top 10 in both 3-pointers made and 3-point accuracy, while turning the ball over just 13.3 times per 100 possessions (eighth). They also share the ball well, earning assists on 60 percent of their made baskets.

Where the Mavericks struggle

The Mavericks force more than 14 turnovers per game, with roughly 10 coming on steals. They otherwise struggle defensively, with opponents shooting roughly 62 percent within five feet of the rim for the third-worst mark in the league. They also give up 15.6 fastbreak points (third-worst) and 43.7 points in the paint (eighth-worst).

Key matchup

Monta Ellis and Marco Belinelli are thriving with their new teams. Ellis is averaging 19.9 points and 5.9 assists in his first season with the Mavericks, with the third-best Player Efficiency Rating of his career. Belinelli, whose IQ and off-the-ball movement have been a perfect fit with the Spurs, is shooting 50 percent on 3-pointers to lead the NBA.